Bruce Ledewitz

FALL
Constitutional Law
Pennsylvania State Constitutional Law

SPRING
Philosophy of Law

"Bends Towards Justice" is an original podcast created and hosted by Duquesne Kline's Professor Bruce Ledewitz. The show is produced in partnership with The August Wilson African American Cultural Center and funded by The Pittsburgh Foundation. The podcast asks a simple, but fundamental question-do we agree with Dr. King that arc of the moral universe bends toward justice? The guests in this series provide a variety of perspectives on that question. The goal of the podcast is for the listener to understand what is at stake in this question and to come to a decision.

Episode 1

Introduction to MLK's concept that the arc of the moral universe bends towards justice

Episode 2

Michael Shermer: Despite the discourse, at present, humanity is kinder and gentler

Episode 3

A conversation with Joseph Carter: The universe doesn't care about your purpose

Episode 4

A conversation with Christian Miller: Is character in decline in America?

Episode 5

A conversation with Tracey McCants Lewis: Will the moral universe bend toward justice?

Episode 6

Damon Young doesn't want to wait for the arc

The Universe is on Our Side: Restoring Faith in American Public Life
Bruce Ledewitz, The Universe is on Our Side: Restoring Faith in American Public Life (Oxford University Press 2021).

Church, State, and the Crisis in American Secularism
Bruce Ledewitz, Church, State, and the Crisis in American Secularism (Indiana University Press 2011).

Hallowed Secularism: Theory, Belief, Practice
Bruce Ledewitz, Hallowed Secularism: Theory, Belief, Practice (Palgrave Macmillan 2009).

American Religious Democracy: Coming to Terms with the End of Secular Politics
Bruce Ledewitz, American Religious Democracy: Coming to Terms with the End of Secular Politics (Praeger 2007).

Secular Surge: A New Fault Line in American Politics, by David E. Campbell, Geoffrey C. Layman, and John C. Green [book review]
Bruce Ledewitz, Secular Surge: A New Fault Line in American Politics. Journal of Church and State (2021) (reviewing David E. Campbell, Geoffrey C. Layman, and John C. Green, Secular Surge: A New Fault Line in American Politics).

What Has Gone Wrong and What Can We Do About It? [book review]
Bruce Ledewitz, What Has Gone Wrong and What Can We Do About It? 54 Tulsa L. Rev. 247 (2019) (reviewing Benjamin I Page and Martin Gilens, Democracy in America (2018), Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, How Democracies Die (2018) and Lawrence Lessig, America, Compromised (2018)).

The Sacred Rights of Conscience, Edited by Daniel L. Dreisbach and Mark David Hall [book review]
Bruce Ledewitz, The Sacred Rights of Conscience, Edited by Daniel L. Dreisbach and Mark David Hall, 5 Unbound - Ann. Rev. Leg. Hist. & Rare Books 100 (2012).

A Call for Amerca's Law Professors to Oppose Court-Packing
Bruce Ledewitz, A Call for Amerca's Law Professors to Oppose Court-Packing, Pepperdine L.Rev. (2019).

The Supreme Court Will Preserve the Bladensburg Cross, But It Matters How
Bruce Ledewitz, The Supreme Court Will Preserve the Bladensburg Cross, But It Matters How, Washington Examiner, March 21, 2019.

What is the Best Model for Investigating Presidential Wrongdoing Today?
Bruce Ledewitz, What is the Best Model for Investigating Presidential Wrongdoing Today?, 57 Duq. L.Rev. 225 (2019). HeinOnline

SCOTUS Gerrymandering Case: Roberts Didn't Defend Constitutional Democracy
Bruce Ledewitz, SCOTUS Gerrymandering Case: Roberts Didn't Defend Constitutional Democracy, Pennsylvania Capital-Star, July 2, 2019.

Is There Room for a Middle Ground in the Debate Over Abortion Rights?
Bruce Ledewitz, Is There Room for a Middle Ground in the Debate Over Abortion Rights?, Pennsylvania Capital-Star, June 27, 2019.

Taking the Threat to Democracy Seriously
Bruce Ledewitz, Taking the Threat to Democracy Seriously, 49 U. Memphis L.Rev. 1305 (2019). HeinOnline

How State Courts Can Help America Recover the Rule of Law: The Pennsylvania Experience
Bruce Ledewitz, How State Courts Can Help America Recover the Rule of Law: The Pennsylvania Experience, 82 Albany L.Rev. 1325 (2019).

The Obama Judge and the Foundations of the Rule of Law
Bruce Ledewitz, The Obama Judge and the Foundations of the Rule of Law, Jurist, December 2, 2018.

The Resurrection of Trust in American Law and Public Discourse
Bruce Ledewitz, The Resurrection of Trust in American Law and Public Discourse, 56 Duq. L.Rev. 21-47 (Summer 2018). HeinOnline,  SSRN

Kennedy's Retirement: Despair Not, Go Out and Organize
Bruce Ledewitz, Kennedy's Retirement: Despair Not, Go Out and Organize, Jurist, June 28, 2018.

Why Won't Free Speech Save Us?
Bruce Ledewitz, Why Won't Free Speech Save Us?, Starting Points, June 11, 2018.

When I Left the Darwin Day Committee
Bruce Ledewitz, When I Left the Darwin Day Committee, 122 Penn St. L. Rev. Penn Statim 1 (2018).

A Lost Opportunity to Reach a Consensus on Gerrymandering
Bruce Ledewitz, A Lost Opportunity to Reach a Consensus on Gerrymandering, Jurist, Feb. 13, 2018.

Has Nihilism Politicized the Supreme Court Nomination Process?
Bruce Ledewitz, Has Nihilism Politicized the Supreme Court Nomination Process? 32 BYU J. Pub. L. 1-46 (2017). SSRN

Is Religion a Non-Negotiable Aspect of Liberal Constitutionalism?
Bruce Ledewitz, Is Religion a Non-Negotiable Aspect of Liberal Constitutionalism?, 2017 Mich. St. L. Rev. 209 (2017). SSRN

The Role of Religiously Affiliated Law Schools in the Renewal of American Democracy
Bruce Ledewitz, The Role of Religiously Affiliated Law Schools in the Renewal of American Democracy, 12 U. Mass. L. Rev. 230 (2017). SSRN

The Threat of Independent Political Spending to Democratic Life - and a Plan to Stop It
Bruce Ledewitz, The Threat of Independent Political Spending to Democratic Life - and a Plan to Stop It, 64 (2) Clev. St. L. Rev. 133 (2016). SSRN

The Five Days in June when Values Died in American Law
Bruce Ledewitz, The Five Days in June when Values Died in American Law, 49 (1) Akron L. Rev. 115 (2016). SSRN

Beyond Edmunds: The State Constitutional Legacy of Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille
Bruce Ledewitz, Beyond Edmunds: The State Constitutional Legacy of Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille, 53 Duq. L. Rev. 371 (2015). SSRN

An Addendum in Light of Recent Developments
Bruce Ledewitz, An Addendum in Light of Recent Developments, 53  Duq. L. Rev. 561 (2015). DSC

Experimenting with Religious Liberty: The Quasi-Constitutional Status of Religious Exemptions
Bruce Ledewitz,&nbspExperimenting with Religious Liberty: The Quasi-Constitutional Status of Religious Exemptions, 6 Elon L.R. 37 (2014). HeinOnline,  SSRN

The Vietnam Draft Cases and the Pro-Religion Equality Project
Bruce Ledewitz,The Vietnam Draft Cases and the Pro-Religion Equality Project 43 U. Balt. L.Rev. 1 (2014). HeinOnline,  SSRN

Robert Taylor, An Appreciation
Bruce Ledewitz, Robert Taylor, An Appreciation, 50 Duq. L. Rev. 469 (2012). HeinOnline

Toward a Meaning-Full Establishment Clause Neutrality
Bruce Ledewitz, Toward a Meaning-Full Establishment Clause Neutrality, 87 Chi.-Kent L. Rev. 3 (2012). SSRN

Seeking Common Ground: A Secular Statement
Bruce Ledewitz, Seeking Common Ground: A Secular Statement, 38 Hastings Const. L.Q. 49 (2010). HeinOnline

Could Government Speech Endorsing a Higher Law Resolve the Establishment Clause Crisis
Bruce Ledewitz, Could Government Speech Endorsing a Higher Law Resolve the Establishment Clause Crisis, 41 St. Mary's L.J. 41 (2009) HeinOnline

The New New Secularism and the End of the Law of Separation of Church and State
Bruce Ledewitz, The New New Secularism and the End of the Law of Separation of Church and State, 28 Buff. Pub. Int. L.J. 1 (2009) HeinOnline

Up Against the Wall of Separation: The Question of American Religious Democracy
Bruce Ledewitz, Up Against the Wall of Separation: The Question of American Religious Democracy, 14 Wm. & Mary Bill Rts. J. 555 (2005) HeinOnline

The Present and Future of Federalism
Bruce Ledewitz, The Present and Future of Federalism, 43 Duq. L. Rev. 645 (2005). HeinOnline,  SSRN

Justice Harlan's Law and Democracy
Bruce Ledewitz, Justice Harlan's Law and Democracy, 20 J.L. & Pol. 373 (2004) HeinOnline

A Constitution for Everyone
Bruce Ledewitz, A Constitution for Everyone, 43 Duq. L. Rev. 1 (2004). HeinOnline, SSRN

Corporate Advertising's Democracy
Bruce Ledewitz, Corporate Advertising's Democracy, 12 B.U. Pub. Int. L.J. 389 (2003). HeinOnline

The Promise of Democracy
Bruce Ledewitz, The Promise of Democracy, 32 Cap. U. L. Rev. 407 (2003). HeinOnline,  SSRN

The Constitutions of Sustainable Capitalism and Beyond
Bruce Ledewitz, The Constitutions of Sustainable Capitalism and Beyond, 29 B. C. Envtl. Aff. L Rev. 229 (2002)  HeinOnline

Mr. Carroll's Mental State or What is Meant by Intent
Bruce Ledewitz, Mr. Carroll's Mental State or What is Meant by Intent, 38 Am. Crim. L. Rev. 71 (2001). HeinOnline,  SSRN

When Federal Law is Also State Law: The Implications for State Constitutional Law Methodology of Footnote Seven in Commonwealth v. Matos
Bruce Ledewitz, When Federal Law is Also State Law: The Implications for State Constitutional Law Methodology of Footnote Seven in Commonwealth v. Matos, 72 Temp. L. Rev. 561 (1999) HeinOnline

Establishing a Federal Constitutional Right to a Healthy Environment in Us and in Our Posterity
Bruce Ledewitz, Establishing a Federal Constitutional Right to a Healthy Environment in Us and in Our Posterity, 68 Miss. L.J. 565 (1998) HeinOnline

The Law of the Jubilee in Modern Perspective
Bruce Ledewitz; Robert D. Taylor, The Law of the Jubilee in Modern Perspective, 22 Vt. L. Rev. 157 (1997) HeinOnline

Law and the Coming Environmental Catastrophe
Bruce Ledewitz; Robert D. Taylor, Law and the Coming Environmental Catastrophe, 21 Wm. & Mary. Envtl. L. & Pol'y Rev. 599 (1997) HeinOnline

Recent Developments in Pennsylvania Death Penalty Law
Bruce Ledewitz, Recent Developments in Pennsylvania Death Penalty Law, 33 Duq. L. Rev. 523 (1995) HeinOnline

Perspectives on the Law of the American Sit-in
Bruce Ledewitz, Perspectives on the Law of the American Sit-in, 16 Whittier L. Rev. 499 (1995) HeinOnline

The Role of Lower State Courts in Adapting State Law to Changed Federal Interpretations
Bruce Ledewitz, The Role of Lower State Courts in Adapting State Law to Changed Federal Interpretations, 67 Temp. L. Rev. (1994). HeinOnline,  SSRN

What's Really Wrong with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Bruce Ledewitz, What's Really Wrong with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 32 Duq. L. Rev. 3 (1994). HeinOnline, SSRN

No Punishment without Cruelty
Bruce Ledewitz; Scott Staples, No Punishment without Cruelty, 4 Geo. Mason U. C.R. L.J. 41 (1993).  HeinOnline

Sources of Injustice in Death Penalty Practice: The Pennsylvania Experience
Bruce Ledewitz, Sources of Injustice in Death Penalty Practice: The Pennsylvania Experience, 95 Dickinson L. Rev. 651-690 (1991). HeinOnline,  SSRN

The Morality of Capital Punishment: An Exchange
Bruce Ledewitz, The Morality of Capital Punishment: An Exchange, 29 Duq. L. Rev. 719 (1991). SSRN

Civil Disobedience, Injunctions, and the First Amendment
Bruce Ledewitz, Civil Disobedience, Injunctions, and the First Amendment, 19 Hofstra L. Rev. 67 (1990). SSRN

An Essay Concerning Judicial Resignation and Non-Cooperation in the Presence of Evil
Bruce Ledewitz, An Essay Concerning Judicial Resignation and Non-Cooperation in the Presence of Evil, 27 Duq. L. Rev. 1 (1988). SSRN

Judicial Conscience and Natural Rights: A Reply to Professor Jaffa
Bruce Ledewitz, Judicial Conscience and Natural Rights: A Reply to Professor Jaffa, 10 U. Puget Sound L. Rev. 449 (1987). SSRN

The Requirement of Death: Mandatory Language in the Pennsylvania Death Penalty Statute
Bruce Ledewitz, The Requirement of Death: Mandatory Language in the Pennsylvania Death Penalty Statute, Paper No. 2011-16, Duquesne University School of Law Research Paper (1982). SSRN

The Uncertain Power of the President to Execute the Laws
Bruce Ledewitz, The Uncertain Power of the President to Execute the Laws, 46 Tenn. L. Rev. 757 (1979). SSRN

Law's Quandary Can Only Be Solved by the Universe--and that goes for the rest of us, too.
Bruce Ledewitz, Law's Quandary Can Only Be Solved by the Universe--and that goes for the rest of us, too, Larry Grimes Lecture at Bethany College (Oct. 7, 2021)

Recent Developments in Pennsylvania Constitutional Law
Bruce Ledewitz, Recent Developments in Pennsylvania Constitutional Law, Duquesne University School of Law Continuing Legal Education (Sept. 25, 2021)

The Constitution and Citizenship in America
Bruce Ledewitz, The Constitution and Citizenship in America, Constitution Day Duquesne University School of Law (Sept. 17, 2021)

Saving Judicial Independence From Court-Packing and Nihilism
Bruce Ledewitz, Saving Judicial Independence From Court-Packing and Nihilism, Celebrating 150 Years of Nine Justices, Elon Law Review Ledewitz interviewing Tracey McCants Lewis. Symposium on Judicial Independence (Sept. 27, 2019).

Anti-Semitism
Bruce Ledewitz, Anti-Semitism, panel presentation at Duquesne University (March 18, 2019).

To Save American Democracy, Prevent Court-Packing
Bruce Ledewitz, To Save American Democracy, Prevent Court-Packing, presentation at University of Memphis Law Review 2019 Symposium, Barriers at the Ballot Box: Protecting or Limiting the Core of the American Identity? (March 15, 2019).

Special Counsel Investigations and Legal Ethics
Bruce Ledewitz, Special Counsel Investigations and Legal Ethics, CLE at Duquesne Law School (February 8, 2019).

The Resurrection of Trust in American Law and Public Discourse
Bruce Ledewitz, The Resurrection of Trust in American Law and Public Discourse, symposium at Shall These Bones Live? Resurrecting Truth in American Law and Public Discourse (Nov. 16-17, 2017).

Should the Death Penalty be Executed?
Bruce Ledewitz, Should the Death Penalty be Executed?, Panel sponsored by the Federalist Society, The American Constitution Society and The Criminal Law Society at Duquesne University School of Law (2014).

Tribute to Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille
Bruce Ledewitz, Tribute to Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille, presentation at Duquesne University School of Law (Oct. 7, 2014).

The End of an Era in Pennsylvania Constitutional Law: The Retirement of Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille
Bruce Ledewitz, The End of an Era in Pennsylvania Constitutional Law: The Retirement of Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille, CLE at Duquesne University School of Law.

Law and Religion in America Today
Bruce Ledewitz, Law and Religion in America Today, CLE at St. Vincent University (August 18, 2013).

Are We All Really Mostly Religious?
Bruce Ledewitz, Are We All Really Mostly Religious?, presentation at the Third Church/State Issues Symposium of the Delaware Valley Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State (April 20 2013).

We Are All Religious Now: How the Vietnam-Era Draft Cases Can Reduce America's Emnity Over Religion
Bruce Ledewitz, We Are All Religious Now: How the Vietnam-Era Draft Cases Can Reduce America's Emnity Over Religion, presentation  at Florida State University Conference on Religion and Law in American History (March  24 2013).

Meeting of Federalist Society
Bruce Ledewitz, commentary on presentation by Greg Lukianoff, Director of FIRE, at meeting of Federalist Society at Duquesne University School of Law (March  20, 2013).

On Taking Nihilism Seriously
Bruce Ledewitz, Participant, On Taking Nihilism Seriously, panel at annual meeting of Lumen Christi and Christian Law Professors (Jan. 5, 2013).

Secularism, Religion and Morality
Bruce Ledewitz, Secularism, Religion and Morality, CLE presentation at Duquesne University School of Law (February 11, 2012).

Emerging Issues in First Amendment Jurisprudence: Interpreting the Relationship Between Religion and the State in the Modern Age
Bruce Ledewitz, Participant, Emerging Issues in First Amendment Jurisprudence: Interpreting the Relationship Between Religion and the State in the Modern Age, panel at Elon Law Review Symposium (October 26, 2012).

Annual Religious Legal Theory Conference
Bruce Ledewitz, Panel presentation at annual Religious Legal Theory Conference, at Pepperdine University School of Law (Feb. 25, 2012).

Is There a Crisis in American Secularism?
Bruce Ledewitz, Is There a Crisis in American Secularism?, delivered to the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Center for Inquiry (Jan. 12, 2012).